Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-10-06
THE. OLD LOG CABIN.
A. mO0SIER' PIONEER DESCRIBES
THE OLD HOME.

~. Fo0OICN TtONcGH' CCOSuIOCo'
the OLD HOME,
4 nouss' BMiH without Brick, Nail,
1lspk, GIsss o. Shingls-Ths Internal
FITTING ER HoStr EcOasmicSi and III
ssnious-Onsy O>,v Ksoml,
The ordinary log. cabin was about eighteon
feet square In rare cases it contained. more
than ono room, ~ q general rule but one. It,
was built Of round logs'or poles, sometimes,
though not often: dressed of y little after i,a
erection. II was one story high covered With
clapboards about four feet long, split ont o'
oak timber, whicfr instead Of being nailed
down, wero kept in their places by heavy
pieces OF timber called "weigbt poles which
were kept at suitable distances apart by the
use Of small sticks Of wood. called "knees."
Tho boards rested on logs exte,riing from ono
end OF the building 70 tiie other, each one
ascending higher than hs predecessor, az the
gable went up, thus giving po the roof tho
right pitch These were called cribs, exec i.
the one forming tho apex Of the roof, which
was called tho fridge pole." To prevent the
first tier Of boards from sliding of, th';o Nat
placed on each side a split log tor th"'u tp
rest against called the "butting pole" 1hr3a
rested on the ends OF logs projecting cut trra!
the corners Of tho house, callel 'envc':
bearers"
When any Goor other shau that provide
by nature was used II was mad. of l.. %
slabs split out Of poplar or ash trees, sni
dressed OF on one side - smoothly rs W.
practicable with . broad az. This waz ca e,
a"puncheon" floor, and was At Arst conlr?.;
TO families Of aristocratic prstensIees, bu@
gradually oAne into general We. There was
but ono door, the shutter 70 which was nRasto
Of clap boards and hung on wooden hinges,
with latch on the inside Of the same ma
terial, ~ which wss attached ysather string,
which, through q small aperture In the Shut
ter, was made to hang inviungly Oh ~ out
side; ths truest indication Of gspuSss hos
pitality being the fact that ~the latch string
was out" Generally thsre was one window,
male by cutting ovt the upper and under
halves Of two netghboring logs, and filing
the space made vacant With grsased paper,
often such a. had been wiitten on at school.
The lower part Of the chimney WAS built Of
thick hewed piec-s OF timl'sr. or heavy slabs,
lined oD the inside With thick coat II clay,
OF which material the hearth was also na,e.
The upper part was built Of small split pieces
. and mortar made OF clay aud straw, the III
side being smoothed Off with the hands of the
builder 20 rs to cover up the wood rs far IT,
possible. 1t was nicc job to build ono t..
these chimueys, and the man who succeeded
we'll In it berame n considerable man In IT,
community, and exceedingly popular wiz
the women, who were than a. now Liiter:y
opposed TO smoky chimneys.'
t,~t,
with small pieces Of split timber called
"chink.," to which was added mortar mad. uf
common clay, put on with the hands uf the
workmen No cabin was ever considered
finished until it was "chinke,i' and "dlul.d.'
used IN ono of theso carly homes OF our fore.
fathers, and such a thing as paint or wni.
paper was not dreamed OF. The interras
fitting up WAS quite as economical and in-
geniou. On ono side of the spacious fireplace,
just under tho window have described, was
set a small table. sometimes brought by the
family from their old home, but generally
made on the sl.t out Of slabs and clapb, cards
attached 70 eGrh other. A few shelves in the
Opposite corner answered tho purpose OF
cupboard in which to put away the pewter"
ware. Ncar the door, perhaps at the side nf
paper pasted on tho wall very useful and
ingenious contrivance pronounced "huzzeH,'
III which were stuck the pins and needles OF
tho family, and in tho capacious pockets Of
which the entire family OF combs, big and
little, coarse and hne. together with an end
less variety OF other small straps" were de-
posted. Above this, in exceptional cases
where the parties were rich, small looking
~ hAI
In most cases there were three beds in tho
room in which there was no partition, one IN
each corner with its feet toward the fireplace.
aud one placed crosswise between them On
the wall behind the beds was hung the entirc
wearing apparel Of the family, from the old.
est to the youngest, including that of tho
daughters whose claim to the favor Of the
young gentlemen depended on tho extent Of
their wnr,lrobe, as we'll as the spun wool, fax
and tow Of which they could boast, all of
which, suspended from tho joists nbove. their
judicious mothers proudly exhibited to the ud-
miring gaze Of their suitos as SO many evil
dcnces Of their matrimonial fitness. These
wcrs sensible mothers. OF course their
daughters did not remain long In the market.
To use commercial phrase, they wero
taken"
Just over the door rested tho much needed
rife; AMI on n rack suspended from tho joisvs
In front OF the fireplace were hung up TO dry
any quantity Of Yankee pumpkins, cut OIL;
in rings, resembling miniature wagon wheel
without hubs or sl,okes. In the "loft,' - il
was called, were stored away the sage al:
catnip OF the women and the hickory nut
and waliuts Of the Junior HooSers. On the oir
side wall were stretched tho skils Of dive
"varmiuts," and IN the chimney covnr",
under few projecting boards, tho plow .n'
gear were laid away to rsst. Though tn
description Is believed TO be fair one Of thi,
class OF pioneer homes throughout the west.
Il Is taken from ono erected by my parent,
near Centervills, in Wayne county, in which
they spent tho morning of their married lives,
and In which was born. God bless the dear
old place The log cabin was an unpreten-
tious home. 1t was tue best, however, tho
pioneer at the time could command, anil lie
was content It was no place for the exhibit
ton OF pride or style. Neither was rated
very high in these early homes of our ances-
tors. Combining the parlor, sitting room,
bed room, dining room and kitchen IN one
room, it wns sufficient for all purposes II a
neghl,nr family was TO he entertained there
was ample room and all were made welcome.
II there was TO be log rolling or corn husk-
ing, the whole neighborhood turned out, in
Guiding the women, who went TO help cook,
and the room was ample. II there was to lo
q wool picking or quilting, to which the men
were sometimes invited, especially the young
.,,l ;o,} opas tba room ~ abundant